Electric demand controller



23 ul o 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ELECTRI C DEMAND CONTROLLER Filed March 4, 1944 May l0, 1949.

jawardfj/nref BY #Mq ATTORNEYS my. f

lMaxy l0, 1949. H. w. HARPER ELECTRIC DEMAND CONTROLLER Filed March 4, 1944 2 Sheets-'Sheet 2 M .w 5 P 000000000 ww ..m 11|, i P /f |..||||l|x|||||||l|l||l||\v 4\\\v S M RW j n a O r N m4 Td R 5,# N f O M, E d H W W A Y 3 B mw m i 8| J. 7 rk 6./ v M 500000000090000 `00 `O 0 00 57 |I||r|||||HN|IIII|I|||I|||I||||||||||||||||||||||||| Y N 0 XI I l l I I l l l l l l I I I l l l l l l I l l l I I I l I Il Il, 0. W 5600000000000000000000000 mfa ||HW nl |||||||||||||1|l|l|||| rw w# wil I u. l P @m m m M 6% .n Z I I l l I w 1 l I l l l l 'n M S l- Patented May 10, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 28 Claims. 1

This invention relates to demand regulating systems, and more particularly to such a system in which there is automatic electrical-load regulating means for preventing excess demand according to a predetermined plan.

Users of commercially supplied energy, such as electricity, frequently contract with the suppliers at rates based on minimum and maximum demands over a given period of time. Under this arrangement it is most economical for a user to hold his maximum demand to the lowest possible value, since for an abnormally high value in any period he is subjected to an additional charge computed over the entire period. Where a large amount of power-driven equipment, some idle part of the time, is involved., the problem of keeping the demand below a specied maximum for each period becomes quite dillicult, and it is further aggravated if energy consuming devices which have a highly variable consumption rate are in use.

The maintenance of the load within the maximum set is of such economic importance as to justify, in many cases, the assignment of a man to the duty of constantly watching the situation and cutting out loads which are dispensible should there be danger that the maximum load would be exceeded.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved regulatingr system which automatically controls a consumers loading so that regardless of peaks therein or wide variations thereof, his demand does not exceed the stipulated maxmurn value over any period of reckoning, and which system may be calibrated, and conveniently adjusted while in operation to meet special conditions of loading as they arise.

This is accomplished by a novel organization, in combination with load control means, of integrating means responsive to load, integrating means responsive to time, and circuit means for varyingthe relationship, between the integrating means, which causes the load control to function. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated herein as exemplary thereof, the system is adapted for use with a contact-making kilowatt-hour meter, and the integrating means comprise powered selector switches which have contactors advanced in response to the load, and to the elapse of time. T" e switches automatically complete a cycle within a predetermined time interval, and the contacts thereof are coupled to unloading means to control the same according to a predetermined plan. Preferably, although not essentially, the plan may be varied from time to time. Accordingly, a master coupling switch may be provided which variably couples the selector switches and may be set to cause operation of the load control means for any of a, plurality of predetermined ratios of energy to elapsed time between the integrating means.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of animproved regulating system wherein by simply adjusting a switch or the like the maximum permissible demand may be conveniently changed to any value upon which rates are to be based, so that the system is universal to meet the needs of the consumer.

This is accomplished according to the present invention by extending, or reducing, the range of the load integrating means and apportioning the new maximum load over the reckoning time.

In the embodiment shown this is done by the provision of circuit means controlled by a reset control switch whereby the initial or reset position of the integrating switch responding to load may be changed to any of a plurality of settings, thus altering correspondingly the integrated load values entering into the relationship wtih the time integrating selector switch.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a doubler switch in combination with a pair of relays so that if the kilowatt-hour meter with which the system is used has a plurality of contacts, advantage may be taken of this to use one or both of said contacts to cover double the range of predetermined demand values provided by the reset control switch.

Still further intermediate Values are obtained through the use of an auxiliary switch-controlled connection to a cooking relay. When using this connection, energization and operation of the load control means may take place for smaller values of integrated load than would normally cause operation for similar settings of the coupling and reset control switches.

Another feature of the invention resides in the arrangement of circuits and controls which enable the system to be constructed from switching equipment now available on the market, and without the necessity of making special elements or devices. Furthermore, the system may be extended to provide the wide range of values of integrated load, and relationships of integrated load to elapsed time, which are necessary for such a system to lind wide acceptance, by merely adding other commercially obtainable switching equipment or controls.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated herein the load integrating means comprises a selector switch having contactors adapted to traverse banks of contacts. The extension oi the range of this switch is accomplished by the provision of means whereby the switch contactors may traverse their associated banks a plurality of times, the load control means of the system becoming operative optionally during one or another of the traverses of the contactors.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings- Figures 1 and 2 combined depict diagrammatically the regulating system embodying the invention. l

The system of this invention may be assembled to form a single compact portablefldevice` for use with existing metering equipment... It also may be made up with controls adapted to be located at points remote from the device itself.. .In `the event that existing meters in a location are not suited for use with-the device, an additional-watthourI metermay. be.installed. for. use `in .conjunction withit.

For.V the -sake of convenience andiiexibility, the

regulating. device..when-madevup-.as a portable unit, as shown in the=drawings, isprovided with an eight-connection plug andreceptacle-/Il and II respectively (Fig. l) through which all external connections tothe..device are made. The plug I0 andreceptacle Il .have-leads I2 and I3 for a suitable alternatingcurrent supply for instancellyolts 60- cycles, leads. I4, I5 and I6 representing the circuit. controlledl'by thedevicai and leads Il, I8 and. lbymeansoiw-hichth'e device receives impulses from an energized circuit (only E partly shown) connected to a standard type ci contact-making .demand 'Watt-hour meter (not shown).

In its operation the-presentregulating-system utilizesboth. alternatingy current for `timing purc. tact in each bank is reached by one 0f each pair poses, and directcurrent-for the operation of relays andrswitchesgand for this latter purpose a step-down: transformer-20- isprovided, having its high A.side connectedzthrough a line switch 2l to the alternating. ciurentg-supply'leads I2 and i3, and its low. side connected to a rectiiier 22 which has a positiveconductorr and negative'conductor 24.

Fromthe line switch-'2| apair offconductors and 26 connects to a synchronoustiming motor 27 which, when energized, drives a cam 28 controllingvccntacts129 to'causefthe latter to periodically engage and disengage eachother. One of the contacts 29 is connectedv .through'the conductor 23a tothe positive conductor 23 of therectiiien and the other to a conductor'Sfso that the rectier voltage periodically.exists'between the conductors 24 andSO. The-.time interval ofithe cycle ofv make-and-break off-.the contacts29 maybe chosen from any of .a number of satisfactory values, but for the purpose of-illustration the cycle may be considered to occurence each minute.

`Impulsesas determinedfby al multiple-contact demand watt-hourmeter, which mayfbeof any type Wellv known in .the'art', are receivedby the control systemover the. conductorsV I'I, I8, and a commonv lead 1I9. The impulses occur alternately'betweenthe conductors I'I-'and IS, and IC and-I9,- andat afrequency which varies directly with the magnitude of load being measured by the meter. A pair of relays 3l and 32 are connected to=the wires I`I,r I8,.and by a jumper ISa t0 the wire I9 as shown so that each relay'respcnds to onlyoneset of impulses. The-relays-3I and'32 have Vnormally open ycontactsf' and 34 Y respectively, connected in parallel by a Wire 35 and wires 35 and 3l, the latter two being connected through a switch 38. With the switch 38 closed, the wire 37 is connected through the relay contacts to the wire each time an impulse is conveyed over either of the wires II or I8, but if the switch 38 be opened, the wires 35 and 3l will be electrically joined only when an impulse is conveyed over the wire I.'y these impulses constituing half the total number of impulses conveyed over the common conductor I9. The switch`38 is therefore an impulse doubler switch.

As stated above the System of this invention includes an integrator of time. Hence, as shown in Fig. 2, the wires 24 and 30, receiving impulses controlled bythe timing motor 2l, are connected to coil 39 having an armature 40 which, upon responding to the impulses, drives step-by-step through a ratchet mechanism (not shown), a rotary integrator device. This is in the form ci a switch 4I which mayhave two banks oi ccntacts 42 and 43. and mechanicallylinked pairs of staggered conta-ctors 44, Maand-45, 45a arranged to respectively traverse said banks. One type ci such switch, with coil and operating armature suitable for this purpose, is` thatmanufacturcd by The American Automatic. Electric Co., Chicago, Illinois, and shown in. their catalogue #40u-C, page 50 as i-tRGi. The pair of staggered contactcrs 44 andV 44a-are electrically joined, are the pair of contactors 45 and 45a. The intermittent impulsesapplied to the coil 38 will cause the contactors A44, 44a and 45, 45o; to advance step-by-step over the contacts in the banks 42 and 43.. Each pair of contacts will dwell for approximately onel minute on each contact in its respective bank and will then be quickly moved to the'next contact. If theimpulses were permitted to continue indefinitely, when the last conof contactors 44, 44a and 45, 45a, the other of each pair would reach a position directly ahead of the first contact of the bank, and would on the next impulse engage theiirst contact to begin the traversing anew.

As thus connected, the switch 4I by successive positions of its contactors, adds or integrates elapsing time, and through the use of a suitable reset mechanism, the switch 4I' may be made to operate according to predetermined cycles occurring consecutively, each of denite time length or duration. According to the present invention, energy consumable within desired limits is apportiongd with respect to these cycles. A convenient time for the cyclewould be fifteen minutes each, since commercial rates based on minimum and maximum demand are frequently considered with respect to such intervals.

For the purpose of regulating a consumers energy consumption during each such fifteen mlnute interval to avoid exceeding the desired maximum, the present invention-provides a load integrator responding to the impulses received over the conductors II, I8 and I9, illustrated diagrammatically as a rotary selector switch 46 (Fig. 2) which may have six banks of contacts 41, 48, 49, .El and 52, and contactors 53, 54, 55, 56, 51 and 58 for said banks respectively. A switch suitable for this use is that marked #RG 89, page 5l ci The vAutomatic.Electric Co. catalogue mentioned above.

All the contactors for the switch 46 are mechanically joined to move in unison, and are driven through a ratchet (not shown). and an armature 59 associated .with a coil`60. .As shown in Fig. 2, the contactors 53 and 54 are connected together electrically, as indicated by a conductor 53a. The banks of contacts l1 and 48 occupy a semicircle, and the contactors 53 and 54 are displaced 180 with respect to each other; hence when one contactor is traversing its associated bank, the other contacter is returning idly from the last contact of its bank to the first contact thereof. As a result, the banks :il and 48, shown as each having twentydive contacts, function the same as would a single group of fty circularly and consecutively arranged contacts traversed by a single contacter, the last Contact of such group being directly adjacent the first contact.

The banks 4Q and 5B, and banks 5| and 52, together with their respective contactors are similarly arranged, the contactors 55 and 5E being connected by a conductor and the contactors '5l and 58 by a conductor dla. However, it should be noted that the banks d2 and 43 of the time integrator switch 4| operate as individual groups, since the contact-ors in each pair dfi, 44a and 45, 45o of this switch traverse only one bank. The pairs of contactors, while mechanically coupled, are electrically insulated from each other.

One end of the operating coil E50 of the local integrating switch (it is connected by a wire 6| to the negative wire 2d of the rectifier, and the positive connection for the other end is through a wire t2 joined to the wire 3l (Fig. l) of the load impulse relays 3| and 32.

The intermittent energization of the conductor Ell through contacts and 34 is accomplished through the feed wire 35, and is under the Control of a reset relay E3. The purpose of this relay is to provide for resetting of the rotary in tegrator switches lil and tt to initial starting position at periodic intervals as, for instance, iiiteen minute periods, and to nullify during this resetting the eilect of the load impulses in the leads il, i8 on the integrator switch 46. Accordingly, the feed wire 35 is connected by a wire 5d to a reset relay contact 65 normally engaged by a contacter et? connected through a wire 23h to the positive conductor 23 of the rectier. As thus connected, the feed wire 35 is normally energized from the positive side of the rectifier 22, and as a result the load impulses in the wires l1, ii! and I9, through operation of the relays 3| and 32, will cause intermittent energization of the coil Gil of the load integrator switch 4t. The contactors E3, 5:3, 55, 55, lil and 53 of this switch will traverse their respective contact banks step-byetep under impulses from the demand meter circuit which are transmitted as the energy is consumed, the total number of steps of the contactors representing the total amount of energy consuined.

Use is made ol? the integrating function of the .witch 4B to control the consumers load according to a predetermined plan based on relationships between the switch 455 and switch 4| over the iteen-rninute reckoning time, after which both switches may be automatically returned to their initial starting positions for continued repetition of the cycle.

As the switches il and it are connected, as thus far described, the contactors of both would continue to advance step-by-step indenitely. For the purpose oi driving the switches for resetting before they begin their new cycle of operation, use is made of contacts 61 and 68 associated with the driving armatures of the switches. These contacts, engaging the armatures 59 and 40 respectively, are so arranged that when they are connected to the proper source of energy the armatures may be rapidly pulsated independently of the integrating pulses, to cause a rapid rotation or the contactors to their initial or starting positions.

Also, according tothe present invention, means are provided for changing the starting position to which the switch 4d will return preparatory to beginning its new cycle. Thus the value of the total energy entering into the relationship between the switches 4| and 46 may be varied according to the position to which the switch 4E is reset. Referring to Fig. 2, the banks of contacts and dit of the switch fit, and the bank of contacts 43 of i'he switch ill are used for resetting purposes.

The time integratinet switch 4| initiates the reset operation of both switches, and therefore determines the starting of new cycle of operations periodically, say every iteen minutes. Thus, beginning at a starting position as shown in Fig. 2, when the cont-actors de, its and d5, 45a are moved fifteen steps, resetting of both switches takes place. During this movement the contactors 44 and d5, after the rst minute of operation, each ci.' the fourteen contacts in its associated bank :for one minute apiece.

It is understood, or course, that during this iteen minute period the contactors of the switch fili being ad anced in response to the load impulses received over the conductors Ill, IB and so that when the resetting begins, the switch not in its initial or starting position.

lin accomplishing this resetting of the switches, all oi the contacts beyond the fourteenth in the bank d3 of the switch et, with the exception of the last contact 59, are connected together, and connected by a wire lil to the fifteenth contact 'il of the bank (l2. The pair of contactors 44 and its are connected to the positive feed line 23. A Wire l2 connects the joined contacts of the bank #S3 to one end of the coil of the reset relay 63 (Fig. i), the other ci the coil being` connected by a wire i3 to a conductor lilla joined to the negative feed line 2t,

Thus when the contacto reaches the liitee Contact lli, it immediately energizes the reset i y lit will be noted thatI this, by separatinff the contacter of the relay from the Contact isolates the wire t4 from the positive line 23h and renders inoperative the circuit through the contacts of the load impulse relays 3i and 32, so that the coil @il of the switch l5 (Fig. 2) not now further respond to load impulses.

For adjustably controlling the reset position of the rotary switch a twelve-point fan blade switch 'i4 (Fig. 2) is provided having twelve blades mechanically connected together, eleven of the blades, numbered ldd, being electrically joined together, and the twelfth blade, marked being insulated trom the other eleven. The blade bears on a collector ring 'l5 by means of which connectie-n to the external circuit is accomplished.

Starting with the contact il and progressing in a clockwise direction around the switch i4, the iirst eleven contacts are respectively connected to the 'fifth and every succeeding iifth contact to the frftieth, oi the group cornprising the banks :ll and 48 of the switch d6 by means oi conductors 'i3 to S3 inclusive, respectively. All the other contacts of these two banks are connected together, and to a common wire 89 leading to the eleven electricallywjoined fan or the switch di blades of ythe switch 14. Also, a wire 98 connects from the first contact ofthe bank 48 to the contact (S1 associated with the driving armature 59 of the switch 45.

The collector ring 15 of the fan blade switch 14 is connected by conductor 99e'. to the Contact 3 of the armature 49 ior moving the rotary switch 4|, and this armature is connected to the wire 39 as shown.

To complete the re et circuit, the contactors 53 and 54 of the switch 4G are connected by a wire 9i to normally disengaged Contact 92 (Fig. 1) of the reset relay 93, and an associated contactcr 93 of the relay is joined by a conductor 94 to the conductor 12,

Thus, when the reset relay G3 is energized at the end oi fifteen minutes, the coil 69 of the integrator switch 4G, being now unresponsive to load impulses received over the conductors |1,

"fill he energized through the Contact At the instant the reset relay 53 becomes energized, the contactors of the switch 45, having been advanced by the load imptdses, are in some position other than that trom which they started. As result, the ccntactors and 54, which are connected to the wire are either directly connected through the network of interconnected contacts of the banks 41 and 4G to the wire 99 and armature Contact 81, or are indirectly connected to these latter through the medium of the fan blades cf the sv tch 14 and the wire 8S.

In either case, the contact 51 and armature 59 will be energized from the positive side of the rect-incr through the wire 9i, contact 92 and contactor 913 of the reset relay (Fig. l), wires wire (follow through Fir. 2) to the inter connected remaining contacts of the bank 43 of the switch ti, through the wire 10 to the contacter (new on contact 5|) which joins the posit;

le lead ES of the rectifier.

'The contacter of the switch 4| would remain cn the fteeth contact 1| for practically a full minute insofar the timing impulses controlled by the tiiri g motor E1 concerned. However, at the very beginning of this minute, the reset relay is energized, and then the coil G of the selector switch 46 energized through the contact El' and armature 59. This immediately causes resetting of the contactors of the switch '56 to the position shown in Fig. 2, the action cf the contact E21, resulting vibration of the armature S, and ratchet drive (not shown) for the contact-ors being known in the art in connection with the speciiic niake of switch as identified above. The contactors 53 and 54 reach their initial or starting positions in a matter of a few seconds, and upon their doing so the circuit from the positively charged wire 9| to the wire 90 and Contact G1 is broken, so that the coil 60 of the switch 45 is no longer energized.

The contactors 53 and 54, however, do not lminediately begin to advance again because the impulses iroin the impulse relays 3| and 32 are still not carried to the coil due to the reset relays 63 still being energized. As the positively charged contactor 54 resets on the ftieth contact 95 of the group comprising the banks 41 and 4S, it energizes the wire 83, the insulated blade 19 of the fan blade switch 14, the collector ring 1S, and wire 2a connected with the contact G8 and armature 40 of the switch 4|. The armature 49 being connected to the wire 30 and therefore to one end of the coil 39 causes a circuit to be completed Athrough this coil, which now immediately proceeds to vibrate the armature for resetting thecontactors 44, 44a and 45, 45a of the switch 4|.

When the contacter 44 of the switch 4| leaves the'iifteenth contact 1| ofthe bank 42, energization of the coil 39 is maintained in the following manner: Referring to Fig. 1, the contacter B6 of the reset relay 63, which is connected by the conductor 23h to the positive line 23 of the rectifier, engages a contact 9S connected to a wire 91 which is` in turn connected to the pair of contactors 45 and 45a of the switch 4|. Therefore, when the contacter 44 of the switch leaves the fifteenthcontact 1| (Fig. 2), the contactor 45, now positively energized, begins to traverse the interconnected fifteenth to twenty-fourth contacts. of the bank 43 and thus maintains positive polarity on the wire 12 which (Fig, 1) maintains theY energization of the reset relay 63, and also maintains/the positive polarity of the wire 94, contacts 92 .and 93, wire 9|, contacter 54 of switch. (Fig. 2), wire 88, insulated contact blade 15 of the fan blade switch 14, and wire 90a, contact 88, armature 48 and end of the coil 39.

This causes thel contactors 44, 44a and 45, 45a of4 the switch 4| to be rapidly advanced within the matter of a few seconds, until the contactor i5-reaches the last or twenty-ith contact 69 of the bank 43.v This immediately breaks the circuit between the positively charged pair of contactors 45, 45a and the wire 12, so that the latter'becomes dead.

In consequence the reset relay G3 is deenergized, together with the driving coil 39. This coil was dependingfor its positive connection upon the wire a, ring 16 and blade 15 of the fan blade switch14, Wire 88, contactor 54, wire 9|, contacts :92 and 93 and wire 94 which latter is joined to the wire 12.

Deenergization of the reset relay 63 immediately reconnects the conductor 64 with the positive conductor 23h so that load impulses received over thewires |1, IB and |9 `will again cause intervmittent energization of the coil 5D of the integrating switch 46, and functioning of the latter for integrating energy during the new fifteen minute cycle of operation.

It will be noted that when the switch 4| is in its'resetor new beginning position, the contactors 45and 45a, and-the contactors 44 and 44a thereof have exchanged positions. Operation of the switch is the same during the next cycle, however, asthat just described.

kThe total time required for resetting of the switches y46 and4| is only a few seconds, so that the next timing-'impulse received by the coil 39 of the switch 4| does not interfere with the resetting, but nds the switch in its new position already starting@ newcycle.

Referring to the functioning of the fan blade switch14, it will be noted that the halting of the resetting movement of the integrating switch 46 occurs whenever either of the contactors 53 or 54 of thiseswitch strikes a contact which isolates them from the wire 90 connected with the contact' 61 and armature 59. The isolation of any one of the iirst, fth, tenth, etc. lcontacts of the banks 41 and 48 from the wires 89 and 58 is Dredeterminedhy the setting of the fan blade switch 14. By-the same operation, the contact so isolated is connected by the contactor 15 to the slip ring 16. and wire 90a leading to the contact 68 of thexcoil 39to start theY resetting of the integrator switchlZ.

As shown in Fig. 2, the iftieth contact 95 of the switch 46 is isolated from the wires 09 and 96. By changing the setting of the ian blade switch, which may be done by hand, the integrating switch 46 may thus be made to reset to any of eleven different positions indicative of eleven different energy-totals, and therefore this switch will start integrating energy from any of these positions.

Referring to Fig. l, the controlled circuit through the plug l and receptacle l l for regulating the loading to which the demand meter respends is represented by the wires ift, l5, and |6.

The terminals of the receptacle i corresponding to these conductors may be connected to switch orf in a manner well understood, and therefore not shown in the drawings, either directly or through relays whatever equipment a consumer has which might be made temporarily inoperative without undue inconvenience or hardship to the consumer. This ywould occur if the consumers loading at some time during the fifteen minute period indicates that continuance of this loading for the remainder of the period. would result in the maximum stipulated demand being exceeded.

The wires i4, I and I6 are connected respectively to a normally closed contact 9S, a contacter Sie and a normally open contact ll of a power relay itil. The coil of the relay l0! has one end connected through a wire |02 to the negative wire 24a of the rectifier, and the other end connected by a wire |03 to a normally open contacter iiif'i of a cooking relay |05 which functions as an automatic switch for the relay |0|. Associated with the contactor |04 is a contact lil@ connected to a wire |01 which when connected to positive line will operate the power relay l0! once the cooking relay |05 is energized.

Energization of the relay |05 is under the control of the contactors 55 and 56, and banks of contacts t5 and 50 of the switch 46. The connections for effecting this are as follows: One end of the coil of the cooking relay |05 is connected to the negative line 24a from the rectifier. The other end is connected to a wire |08 which 2) in turn connects with the ftieth contact its of the group comprising the banks 49 and 5). The contactors 55 and 543 of this group, which function as a single contactor, are connected by a wire ||il which (Fig. 1) connects to the con-n ductor 64 which is positively energized at ali times except when the reset relay 63 is energized.

Thus each time the integrating switches 46 and lil are returned to their initial starting positions as shown in Fig. 2 the cooking relay will be energized by virtue of the contactor 56 ci the switch engaging the ftieth Contact |09. since, immediately after reset, the reset relay 63 is deenergized.

Once the cockng relay |05 is energized, its energization is maintained until energization of the reset relay 63 takes place. After this latter occurs, the cocking relay must again be energized by the contacter 56. Maintenance of energization of the cooking relay is accomplished by the provision of a pair of auxiliary normally open contacts and ||2 operated by the relay and connected respectively by wires 3 and lid to the normally positive contact of the reset relay 63 and the wire |53 for the coil of the cooking relay.

It will be noted that should the fan-blade switch 'it be set to some other position, the integrating switch 46 will in resetting return to a starting position other than that shown in Fig. 2, and

therefore the cooking relay |05 will not be immediately energized. This delayed energization of the cooking relay serves as a useful function as will be later brought out, it being understood for the present that for a condition such as this if the contactors of the switch 46 are advanced in response to heavy loading the contacter 56 will at some time before the expiration of the fteen minute interval constituting the cycle of operation, engage the contact |09 to energize the cockrelay so that operation of the power relay iti is made possible.

According to the present invention the operation of the power relay |0| to control the loading is dependent on the attainment of predetermined relationships between the energy integrating switch 46 and the time integrating switch di. Such relationships would be representative of denite maximum amounts of energy consumed in denite intervals of time within the reset cycle of the switches, and a consumers loading could thus be automatically controlled so that during any such cycle the total energy consumed would not exceed a stated maximum demand.

Broadly stated the contacts of the energy integrating switch and time integrating switch are electrically interconnected so that if a prededetermined relationship is reached, the interconnected contacts are simultaneously engaged by the contactors, and the power control relay |0| is energized to reduce the load.

In the broader aspects of the invention these relationships might be once predetermined and then xed. However, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated and described herein, means are provided for adjusting and varying the relationships to meet a wide variety of conditions.

One such means is the fan blade switch 14 already described. This provides for resetting of the integrator switch 46 to any of various starting positions, thus changing the starting or reset relationship between the switches 46 and 4|. As a result a wide number of total values of consumed energy, taken with respect to the time intervals blocked off by the switch 4|, is made possible.

The relationships, exclusive of starting positions, between the switches 46 and 4| are determined through the medium of the electrical connections between the bank of contacts 42 of switch ti and the banks of contacts 5| and 52 of the switch 45, and a means for adjusting or varying these connections is provided by a multi-blade selector switch Referring to Fig. 2, the rst seven contacts of the bank 42 of the switch 4| are connected together and joined by a coupling wire ||5 to a contacter segment ||6 of a multi-blade selector switch |17. Also, the eighth to fourteenth contacts oi the bank 42 are respectively connected by conductors I8 to |24 inclusive to segments |25 to |3| inclusive of the switch lll. When the contactors of the switch are in their #l position, as shown in Fig. 2, the segments H0 and S25 through |3|' are respectively connected to switch contacts Hb in turn connected to coupling wires |32, |33, |34, |35, |36, |31, |38 and |35 which are joined respectively to the forty-second through the forty-ninth contacts of the group comprising the banks 5| and 52 of the switch 46.

The switch which I term a ratio switch because it varies the ratio between time intervals and load increments,l has, as shown, five positions, and iive sets of contacts to be selecthe sets .and the banks 5Iwandf 52. of the switch 46 so that the following Icircuits may be formed:

VFor position number two, the first seven as a group,` and the eighth. .through fourteenth contacts individually of switch 4 I. connect respectively with every otherfcontactbetweeny and includingthe .thirty-fourth* and forty-eighth of the. group comprising thebanks :5I and 52' of' the switch 45; for position number three, every third contactbetween and including the twenty-sixth and forty-seventh of the: group of switch 45; for

position number-four, every. fourth `contact be Vtween and including the eighteenth and fortysixth of switch 45;:a'nd for position number five, every fth'contact' betweeny and including the tenth and forty-fifth of switchli.

Now, in following through wirev 151 from Fig. 1, it will -be observedthat this, iniFig. 2,; connects with the ccntactors 51. and 58 associatedwith the Vbanks 5IV and. 52 of switch L16. Whenever the contactor-MI(of-switch'4l) connected with the positive side of the rectifier, isconnected by means' of thecouplingcircuits through the ratio switch II1 tothe contactors 51 and.58 of the switchIIB it-willcause operation' of the power relay IUI provided thecocking relay has been iirst energized.

Thus, if during any cycle of operation of the switches 46-and 4I, theenergy being integrated by theswitch -45Y exceeds anyof a plurality of predetermined total values respectively in a corresponding'plurality/of time 4intervals as detervmined by thesettingsof the switches 14 and' I I1,

the portion 0f the load connected with the controlled circuit of thepower relayjIOI may be dislconnected for theremainder of the. cycle.

.The operation of the regulatingA system as a unit is as follows: Withv the switches'ZIrand'fSS closed; and the switchesM'andv I I1 in the positions shown,the vcooking relay VIIl'a willbe energized, and timing impulsesy as determined by the timer 21, and occurring` at one minute intervals, will advance the time integrating switch4I a Ystep after each minute, including the rst. Also,

, load impulsesfreceivedr overfthe wires I1, I8 and I9 -will advancethe energy'integrating switch 46 step-by-step.

^ If at any timebefore thev beginning of the eighth minute of, operation, the consumers loading is yso heavy that, in the switch-.46, thecontactor 51 traverses the entirebank 5I and the contactor 58 then traverses the bank .52 to or past the forty-second contact I40^of-the group comprising both banks, the power relay IUI will be operated to disconnect a part of the'consumers load. This operation of the relay IDI is an indication thatv the consumers'loading4 before the `first eight minutes of operation ofthe device has been too `heavy to allow it to continue at the v same rate.

the expiration of the fifteen minutes, the'integrating switches of the device will reset and the power relay will be deenergized so'that the con- Ysumers equipment which was disconnected will again be-connected.

If, however, before `the first eight minutes.` of

.operation of the.` device the consumers: loading wasnotheavy enough to'cause the contactor358 topass the forty-second: contactA I, then the loading was not for these' eightminutes, atsan average rate which if continuedwould cause the maximumenergy consumptionduring the fifteen-minute` interval to exceed the stipulated demand, and power relay IUI would not'be energized nor the consumers loading reduced.

If the loading is not reduced by' thedevicebefore the rst eight. minutes of its operatiomand if during the ninth minute the contacter 58 were tomove past the forty-third contact I4I of the group comprising the banks 5I and 52', the'power relayIUI would then be operated'to reducethe load, and for the remaining minutes of the cycle the consumersloading would be at thereduced rate to prevent his demand from exceeding the maximum. kIn the event that',v duringv the ninth minute ofl operation of the device, the contacter' 58 did not move past the forty-third contact,

then the power reducing relay would notbe operated.` In like manner the operation ofthe device during the remaining six minutes would proceed according to this plan of control, as effected by the remaining five coupled contacts in the bank"52 of the switch IIS.

` 'When the contactors`51 andu 58 of the integrating switch 4S reach any given contact of the group of fifty comprising the banks 5I and` 52, it means that a certain amount of energy has been consumed by theconsumers equipment. This energy is matched against the time intervals blocked olf by the switch 4I to rdetermine whether or not the loading must be altered. With'the switches'14 and II1 in the position shown in Fig. 2, upon the contactor 58 reaching the forty-second contact |40, a certain number of watt-hours of energy have been consumed, and this has been matched with a time interval'of approximately eight minutes. If it is desired that this amount of energy beimatched with a' time interval of twelve instead of eight minutes, it is only'neccssary to move theswitch I I1 to position #2l This connects conductor I2I, corresponding to twelve Aminutes; through the switch IIT to conductor |32 which joins the forty-second lcontact |40.

i When this is done, a smaller amount of energy, as

switch were to be rotated counterclockwise onetwelfthof a revolution from-the position of Fig. 2, so' that the'insulated 'blade15"thereof,connected with thecontact joined to the..conductor 81, the reset position of al1 the contactors of the energy integrating switchIIG would be changed, andthe contactor- 54 thereof would come to rest on the Y forty-fifth contact IM ofthegroupcomprising the `banks 41 .and 48.

Thus, this integrating switch would then have to be moved ve steps by the loadbefore the cooking relay1l05 became energized, andy this is .equivalent to .adding the amount of energy. representedby-theseiive steps .to the increments: of "energy yvalue matched 13 against the increments of time as explained above.

In the same manner the switch 11i may be reset to add, to these previously considered amounts of energy, increments represented by ten steps, fifteen steps, twenty steps, etc. up to fifty steps.

Under certain conditions, especially where the contactors of the integrating switch 46 reset to the lower-numbered contacts of the group comprising the pair of banks, it may be desirable to energize the cooking relay immediately upon reset, and for this purpose there is provided a cooking switch E45 (Fig. 1) connected in parallel with the holding contacts and ||2 of the relay. When the switch |45 is closed the cooking relay |85 is energized at all times except during resetting of the integrating switches.

It will be seen that the relationships of energy consumed to time intervals are thus controlled not only by the ratio switch H7 but also by the fan blade switch lili, and the cooking switch |45.

It should be noted at this point that if the fan blade switch. 'F4 is set so that the insulated blade l5 thereof is engaging the contact 'l1 the energy integrating switch 45 will reset to a position where the contacter 53 is engaging the number one contact |46 of the group comprising the banks 4'! and 48. For this setting, the switch 46 will have to be moved forty-nine steps before the cocking relay |65 is energized to make the power relay ii responsive to the relationships between the switches 45 and 4|. Therefore, the contactors 57 and 5S of the switch 46 would transverse the entire lengths of their respective banks once before the power relay |0| would be connected for operation. Upon traversing these banks a second time, however, during which period the cocking relay |95 is energized, the contactors 51 and 53 would cause operation of the power relay mi should the loading exceed a predetermined maximum average.

The relationships of energy to -time between the switches 45 an-d 4| may be also Varied by means of the doubler switch 38. When this switch is closed, each impulse received over the conductors Il', ld and I9 will cause the integrating switch 45 to advance one step. However, if the doubler switch 3B is open, the integrating switch 41% will advance one step in response to only every other impulse sent over the wires l1, I8 and I9. That is, the switch 4t will advance only when an impulse is received over wires I1 and I9, thus cutting in half the rate of integration of the integrating means. As a result, a completely new set of relationships of energy to time, to accominodate the consumers needs, are possible through the use of the doubler switch 38.

Referring to Fig. 1, for testing purposes during servicing of the device, there is provided a push button |41 connected in parallel with the timing impulse contacts 25 to permit manual stepby-step operation of the time integrating switch -E. Also, a push button |48 is provided connected to the wires 23h and E2 to provide for manual step-by-step operation of the energy integrating switch 45.

A third testing push button |49 is provided, connected with the conductors 'I2 and 23D to provide for energization of the reset relay 63 when it is desired to reset the integrating switches 45 and 4|. In order that 4this reset may be done at any time, as ior instance when the contactors of the switch 4I are engaging a contact between the first and the fourteenth inclusive of their respective banks, the first fourteen contacts of the bank 43 are connected together and connected by a wire |55 to the wire "l2, Thus, operation of the push button |49 will, by energizing the reset relay 63, cause the wire Q1, and therefore the contactors IE5 and 45e of switch 4| (Fig. 2) to be connected through wires 23h and 23 to the positive side of the rectiiier. This will cause the wires |58 and 72 connected with the bank 43 of the switch to become positive, and (Fig. 1) will maintain the energization of the relay 55 until the switches have reset.

A pilot light |5| is connected to the wires |53 and 24a respectively to indicate visually when the loading is reduced by the device.

For the purpose oi reducing sparking at the armature contacts of the integrating switches (Fig. 2), a condenser |52 and resistor |53 are connected in series, and joined to the conductors 35i and 23 respectively, anda condenser |54 and resistor |55 connected in series and joined to the conductors 152 and 23 respectiveiy.

Variations and modifications may be made within rthe scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

i. In a load regulating system, integrating means responsive to a variable load; integrating means responsive to the elapse of time; means for altering said load when a predetermined relationship is reached between `both said integrating means; and means coupled to both said integrating means for changing said load-altering relationship between said integrating means.

2. In a load regulating system, means responsive to energy consumed; means responsive to :the elapse of time; means controlled by both said means and operativ-e after the elapse of an initial predetermined period of time for altering the energy consumption when a predetermined ratio of energy 1to elapsed time is reached; and separate means controlled by the energy responsive means for altering said energy consumption whenever a predetermined amount of energy is conusmed within said initial period of time.

3. In a load regulating system, integrating means responsive to a variable load; integrating means responsive to the elapse of time; means operative after a predetermined elapse of time for altering said load when a predetermined ratio of energy to total elapsed time is reached between both said integrating means; and means coupled to both said integrating means for changing said load-altering ratio between said integrating means.

4. In a load regulating system, integrating means responsive to a variable load; integrating means responsive to the elapse of time; means for altering said load when a predetermined relationship between said integrating means based on apportionment of a maximum integrated load value over a predetermined period of time is reached; and means independent of said load and coupled to both said integrating means for changing the maximum integrated load value upon which said apportionment is based.

5. In a load regulating system, integrating means responsive to a variable load; integrating means responsive to the elapse of time; means for altering said load when a predetermined ratio, between both said integrating means, of energy to elapsed time based on apportionment of a maximum integrated load over a predetermined period of time is reached; means coupled to both said integrating means for changing said loadaltering ratio between said .integrating means; and `Ameans coupled to both 'said integrating means for changing the maximum integrated load upon which said apportionment is based.

6. 'In a load regulating system, integrating means responsive -to a variable load; integrating meansresponsive to the elapse of time; means for altering said load when a predetermined relationship is reached between both said integrating means; and means for changing saidrloadaltering relationship between V'said integrating means to a new predeterminedrelationship-while the device is in'opera-ticn.

7. In a load regulating system, integrating means responsive to a variable load; circuit means connected therewith; integrating means responsive to the elapse or time; `circuit fmeans connected therewith; means controlled by said circuit means for altering said load when a predetermined relationship is reached between-both said integrating means; and means for varia'bly interconnectingsaid circuit means for changing said load-altering relationship between said integrating means.

8. In a load regulating system, integrating means responsive to a variable load; electrical conductors connected therewith; integrating means responsive to the elapse of time; electrical conductors connected therewith; means vcontrolled by said conductors for altering said load .l

altering said load ii a predetermined amount of energy is 'consumed before the elapse of a predetermined interval of time; and separate means coupled to both said integrating means for changing Vthe amount of said predetermined energy.

10. In a load regulating system, integrating means responsive to a variable load; integrating means responsive to the elapse of time; means connected with both said integrating means .for altering said load if a .predetermined amount of energy is consumed before the elapseof a predetermined interval Aof time; and meansincluding a plurality or" selectable Acontacts `coupled to both said integrating means for changing the length of said predetermined interval of time corresponding to said predetermined amount of energy.

11. In. a .load regulating system, integrating means responsive to a variable load; integrating means. responsive to the elapse of time; means connected with both said integrating .means for altering said load if a predetermined amount of energy is consumed before the elapse f a predetermined interval yof time; means coupled to both said integrating means for changing the amount oifsaid predetermined energy.; and means including .a plurality of .selectable contacts coupled to vsaid `integrating.means for changing the .length of said predetermined.intervalof time corresponding. to said predetermined. amountsof energy.

12. 'In a load regulating system, integra-ting means responsive to a variable'load; vintegrating means responsive'step-by-step tothe elapseof time, each of vsaid steps correspcnding'toa um- 16 form time interval; and means for altering Isaid load when a predetermined ratio between said integrating means of energyA tosteps Yof timeis reached.

13. In a load regulating system, an automatic powered timing switch having a plurality oi insulated contact points and a contactor-adapted to connect selectively to said points andoperating to periodically connect to the latter in rotation according to a predetermined timing; a powered metering Aswitch and control circuits therefor controlled by the ltiming switch to automatically reset the metering switch to open-circuit posi-v tion periodically in step with the cycle of the timing' switch, said metering switch having a plurality oi insulated contact points and a con-` tactor adapted to connect selectively to said points and operating to engage the latter consecutively at a speed proportional -to the rate of energy consumption in a circuit; 4and means connected with the contact points of the switches for altering the load of the circuit consuming said energy when a predetermined relationship is reached between the contactors of said switches.`

14. In a load regulating system, integrating means responsive to a variable load; integrating means responsive to the elapse of time; means for automatically beginning a new cycle of operations of the said integrating means .at'the expiration of a predetermined period of time, said integrating means having a predetermined starting relationship with each other; means for altering the load when an advanced predetermined relationship is reached between both said integratingmeans; and means connected with said means for beginning a new cycle of operations for changing the predetermined starting relationship between said integrating means.

l5`. In a load regulating system, integrating means responsive to a variable load; integrating means responsive to the elapse'of time; means for altering an electric load; means connected with said integrating means for controlling said load altering means .if an amount'of energy of predetermined value is consumed before the elapse of one predetermined interval of time; and separate `means connected with said integrating means `and operative only ii the preceding controlling means is not caused to function for controlling said load-altering means when the amount of energy consumed reaches another and greater predetermined value in a predetermined longer interval of time.

i6. The invention as defined in claim V15 in which there are means for changing the length of the predetermined intervals 'ci Vtime in which said predetermined values of energy must be consumed to cause the load altering means to be operated.

17. The invention as dened in claim l5 in which there are means for changingv the values of energy at which either time interval the load altering means is caused to operate.

18.' The invention as dened in claim l5 in which there are means for changing said predetermined intervais of time, and said predetermined amounts of energy.

19.In a .load regulating system, integrating means` responsive to a Variable load; lintegrating meansl responsive tothe elapse ofv time; means for'automaticall'y beginningV a new cycle of operationsof the said integrating means at the expiration of `a predetermined period of time; means Afor lalteringsaid yload lwhen-the first to 17 be reached of any of a plurality of xed predetermined consecutive relationships obtains between both said integrating means; and means for limiting the operation of said load-alteringmeans to once in each cycle of operation of said integrating means.

20. in a load regulating system, integrating means responsive step-by-step to energy consumption; integrating means responsive step-bystep to the elapse of time; means for altering the rate of energy consumption when a predetermined total of steps of the energy integrating means, representing energy consumed, is reached before a predetermined total of steps of the time integrating means, representing elapsed time, is reached; and means for altering the rate oi response of one of said integrating means whereby the means for altering the rate of energy consumption is caused to function in response to a different relationship between energy consumed and time of consumption without changing the relationship between the predetermined totals of steps of the integrating means.

21. In a load regulating system, integrating means responsive to the elapse of time; a powered metering switch having a plurality of insulated contact points and a contactor adapted to connect selectively to said points and traversing the latter a plurality of times in rotation from a given starting point at a speed proportional to the loading in a circuit; means connected with the contact points of the metering switch and with the integrating means for altering said loading if the contactor during its rst traverse engages a predetermined one of said points before the elapse of a predetermined period of time; and means for causing said load altering means to be inoperative during the first traverse of said contactor.

22. The invention as dened in claim 15 in which there are means for changing by a xed percentage the values of energy at which in either time interval the load-altering means is caused to operate.

23. The invention as dened in claim 15 in which there are means for changing, each by a different percentage, the individual Values of energy at which in either time interval the loadaltering means is caused to operate.

24. The invention as dened in claim 15 in which there are means for changing, each by a diiTerent percentage, the lengths of the individual predetermined intervals of time in which said predetermined values of energy must be consumed to 18 cause the load altering means to be operated` 25. in a load regulating system, means responsive to energy consumed; means responsive to the elapse of time; means controlled by both said means' for altering the energy consumption if a redetermined amount of energy is consumed before the elapse of a predetermined interval oi time; means controlled by the time-responsive means for returning the energy-responsive means to a starting condition after the elapse of a greater predetermined interval of time; means controlled by the energy-responsive means and operative upon completion of return of same to starting condition for returning the time-responsive means to a starting condition; and means for preventing response to energy consumption of the energyresponsive means during return of the timeresponsive means.

26. The invention as defined in claim 13 in which there are means connected with the contact points of the switches for changing said relationship, said means including a multi-blade selector switch having a plurality of positions each of which represents a different load-altering relationship between the contactors of the powered switches whereby said load alteration will be effected when any one of said relationships, as determined by the setting of the multi-blade switch is reached.

27. In a system of the character described, loadcontrolling means; and energy integrating means including apparatus having an adjustable inactive cycle and a, succeeding active cycle operative to control said load-controlling means.

28. The invention as dened in claim 13 in which the metering switch has a plurality of opencircuit positions, and in which there are means, including a selector switch connected with the contact points of the metering switch, for changing the reset position of the latter as determined by the setting of the selector switch.

HOWARD W. HARPER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,673,116 Jenkins June 12, 1928 1,904,500 Mclenegan Apr. 18, 1933 1,959,166 Kaufman May 15, 1934 1,999,810 Hershey Apr. 30, 1935 2,384,792 Brown Sept. 18, 1945 

